🚄 Could high-speed rail curb America’s addiction to cars?

Your brain needs you to focus on one thing at a time ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Good morning! At this point, it’s no longer news that technology such as AI algorithms can bake racial bias into an array of elements relating to life in America, from hiring to social networking to policing. But Jenn Stroud Rossmann and B.R. Cohen argue that this fact isn’t a new twist imposed by modern technology but rather the continuation of long-standing dynamics dating back to the creation of the country’s original network: the railroad system built in the 19th century. The authors, who are both professors at Lafayette College, delve back into history to explain why “addressing digital racism requires excavating that past.” Read the full story here.  —Harry McCracken   tech The roots of digital racism date back to 19th-century railroads Addressing the inequality baked into today’s algorithms requires excavation of technology’s layered history. READ MORE   impact Puerto Rico could rebuild its power grid with renewables, but FEMA plans to fund fossil fuels FEMA has allocated $9.4 billion for rebuilding Puerto Rico’s electricity system after Hurricane Maria. The proposed plan would build new natural gas-fired power plants. READ MORE   career evolution If you’re struggling at work, use these tips to tap your true passion Read this if you’re about to quit your job and go YOLO, and you want to know what to do with all your time and figure out how to make meaning or have fun. READ MORE

Could high-speed rail curb America’s addiction to cars? Developers behind the private rail company Brightline hope sophisticated design helps sell the public on high-speed rail travel. READ MORE

recommender Pattern Beauty promises to restore natural curls. Here’s how it worked on my hair I was skeptical that Tracee Ellis Ross’s haircare line would give my coils the hydration they need. I shouldn’t have been. READ MORE   co.design Black children are almost 6 times more likely to drown than white children. Segregated pools are to blame A new exhibition portrays the lasting effects of segregated swimming pools in America. READ MORE   tech Hollywood is on the brink of a massive work stoppage because of the streaming wars The fight for subscribers among Disney Plus, Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max is at the center of the looming Hollywood workers strike. READ MORE   co.design Forget old men on horseback. This is what the monuments of the future will look like New York City’s Union Square has long been a center of activism and social justice. A new exhibit continues that trend. READ MORE   mindfulness at work Your brain needs you to focus on one thing at a time Though a healthy alternative, monotasking will take practice to master—especially if you’ve spent years multitasking. READ MORE     Video: innovation labs Behind the scenes at Nike’s brand-new LeBron James Innovation Center Four and a half years in the making, Nike’s new 750,000-square-foot LeBron James Innovation Center in Beaverton, Oregon, marks the first time the company has ever combined apparel, shoe design, and athlete analysis all under one roof. WATCH NOW     FREE SPONSORED E-BOOK OF THE DAY The 6 Critical Attitudes for Entrepreneurial Success Click here to download your free e-book.     Thanks for reading! Have questions or comments? Email us at newsletters@fastcompany.com. Have a great weekend! SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER   Support strength in journalism Join Fast Company Premium for $1   You can update your details here. If you don’t want to receive Compass anymore, unsubscribe here If you were forwarded Compass and like it, subscribe here View this newsletter online 7 World Trade Center, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10007-2195